Manna in the Morning

Jesus introduced His Sermon on the Mount with nine provocative statements that we have come to call the Beatitudes. What better way to begin the New Year than for us to consider well the way Jesus began His most famous message. The first beatitude according to the NIV rendering is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:3) Eugene Peterson’s Message renders it in this way, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” We need to remember that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. If today brings you to the end of your rope...hang on...God is there to bless your life as never before. We also need to remember that God wants the best for us...is ready to respond to our need...and desires for us to spend our eternity in heaven with Him.

By now some people would be hard-pressed to remember many, if any, of the New Year’s resolutions they made just a couple of days ago. Yet, I think it is important for us to make resolutions not just on New Year’s day but whenever we realize that there are changes that need to be made. The Bible challenges us constantly about things we need to consider about life and how we live it. There are things we need to have resolve about and be very serious in that resolve. One such matter is discussed by the Apostle Paul in Eph. 4:29. There he writes, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.” What a great challenge. We live in a society that seems to make it easy to be critical and to bring others down. But God’s Word clearly encourages us to edify one another...to build one another up and to encourage one another. Today, why not intentionally seek out someone you know who needs some encouragement and do your part in lifting their spirits.

I have always been intrigued by the farewell words that people give. As in the case of Lou Gehrig after he had been diagnosed with what is now referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He knew that he was dying and had to leave a stellar career in baseball. In an emotional ceremony at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939, Gehrig’s farewell comment was, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” The farewell of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew is referred to as the Great Commission. After giving the commission to preach and make disciples his final word was, “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). His last word that is recorded in Scripture is Revelation 22:20, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” As we come to the end of another year it should give us pause that we are even closer to the time of our Lord’s Return. It is imperative that we be ready when he comes back. We live between his first coming (his birth) and his second coming...between the “already” and the “not yet.” Let’s live this day and every day in anticipation of the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Wow! Tomorrow is the last day of 2010...then it’s New Year’s day...the beginning of 2011. Where has the time gone? We ask that every year and every year the answer is the same...we don’t know. Here we are at the threshold of a brand new year. It is good to pause and ponder what changes we might need to make in the coming year. One tradition is to make new year’s resolutions...it is also traditional to break them rather soon into the new year. But we keep trying...we keep hoping that we can make improvements and do better. I like to think of the New Year as a reminder of something that Jesus said in the last book of the Bible...the book of Revelation. In the 21st chapter He is allowing John to see a vision of heaven. Jesus relates that this will be a time when God will wipe away every tear from their eyes and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Then John sees and hears something spectacular: “He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making everything new!” So this New Year’s Day let us look forward to that time when Christ will make all things brand new!